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WCA #261 with Dave Gardner

WCA #261 with Dave Gardner – College Radio, Critical Thinking, Diversity, Power Dynamics, Communication, Compromise, and Context.

Dave Gardner grew up in Pittsburgh, became an adult in Minneapolis, and lives in Northeast Los Angeles. He is the Chief Mastering Engineer at Infrasonic Los Angeles and a long time fan of loud sounds. His mastering and producing credits include Sun Ra, Rocket From the Crypt, Les Paul, Louis Armstrong, Germs, Portugal. The Man, Earl Hines, Bassnectar, The Hold Steady, Black Lips, Trampled by Turtles, Hot Snakes and many others.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Critical thinking and analysis
  • Urban planning
  • College Radio
  • Gear Lust
  • Diminishing Friction
  • Diversity
  • Power Dynamics
  • Communication, compromise and context.

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Dave Gardner
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #260 with Ben Bernstein

WCA #260 with Ben Bernstein – Being a guide, Low friction, Planning, Getting credit, and Being a team player.

Ben Bernstein is a producer, engineer, and mixer based out of Oakland, California. This is Ben’s second appearance since first appearing on WCA #055 ( https://bit.ly/2E2ND0o ). More on Ben : https://www.benbernsteinmusic.com/

In this episode we discuss:

  • Live sound
  • Diversification
  • Getting credit
  • The role of social media
  • Saying yes
  • Being prepared
  • Live streaming
  • Being a team player
  • Planning
  • The Profitable Producer Course
  • Low friction
  • Being a guide

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Ben Bernstein
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #259 with Lenise Bent

WCA #259 with Lenise Bent – The smell of tubes, Leon Russel’s studio, Roger Nichols, Mike Chapman, Cancer, Networking and Diversification

Lenise Bent is an American audio engineer who has worked in both the music and film industry. She was one of a handful of women working in the Hollywood recording studio business in a technical role during the 1970s and was the first woman to receive an RIAA Platinum album for her engineering of AutoAmerican by Blondie.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The smell of tubes
  • Leon Russel’s studio
  • Surviving as an assistant
  • Working with Mike Chapman
  • Working with Roger Nichols
  • Cancer
  • Working in post-production
  • Networking
  • Diversification

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Lenise Bent
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #258 with Jason Livermore

WCA #258 with Jason Livermore – Selling Beer, Studio Ownership, Production Details, Cross Fit, and Thousand Dollar Vape Machines.

Jason Livermore is a producer/engineer/drummer and co-owner of the Blasting Room Studios located in Fort Collins, Colorado.

For more info on Jason visit: https://theblastingroom.com/

In this episode we discuss:

  • Selling Beer
  • Fort Collins
  • Studio Ownership
  • Partnerships
  • Gear Debt
  • Mentors
  • Production Details
  • Points
  • Cross Fit
  • Legalized marijuana
  • 25 Years of Business

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Jason Livermore
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #257 with Music Expo

WCA #257 with Music Expo – Warren Huart, Lenise Bent, Michael James, Starita, Emiliano Caballero

Music Expo San Francisco 2019 took place at the SAE Institute in Emeryville, California on November 9th and 10th. It featured a wide array of panels and discussions. The Producers and Engineers panel was the Keynote panel held on the 10th. Enjoy. -Matt

For more info on Music Expo: https://musicexpo.co/

In this episode we discuss:

  • Producing
  • Points
  • Survival
  • Mental Health
  • Success
  • Building a career
  • Thinking Globally
  • Persistance

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guests: Warren Huart, Lenise Bent, Michael James, Starita, Emiliano Caballero
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #256 with Scott Evans

WCA #256 with Scott Evans – Quitting his day job, Drug money, Wrestling mixes, Imposter syndrome and being financially conservative.

Scott Evans is an engineer and mixer based in Oakland, California. This is Scott’s second appearance on WCA. His first appearance was Episode #010 in 2015. We met at his studio for a great discussion and follow up to our first interview.

For more info on Scott visit: http://antisleep.com/

In this episode we discuss:

  • Quitting his day job
  • Traveling to record
  • Being financially conservative
  • Drug money
  • Electrical Audio
  • Mastering Diagnosis
  • Winning A potty
  • Wrestling Mixes
  • Imposter Syndrome

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Scott Evans
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #255 with Steven Gillis

WCA #255 with Steven Gillis – Chicago winters, studio partnerships, Chuck Berry, HVAC systems, SSL myths, and the last studio he’ll ever build.

Steven Gillis is a drummer producer/engineer and mixer working out of Transient Sound, his studio in Chicago that he shares with studio partner Vijay Tellis-Nayak.

For more info on Steven visit: https://www.transientsound.com/

In this episode we discuss:

  • Chicago Winters
  • Studio Partnerships
  • Chuck Berry
  • HVAC Systems
  • SSL Myths
  • The last studio he’ll ever build

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Steven Gillis
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #254 with Jonah Strauss

WCA #254 with Jonah Strauss – DIY Attitude, The Aftermath of Fires, Advocacy, Dealing with Debt, The Dynamics of East Oakland and Serving his community.

Jonah Strauss made his first appearance on WCA #016. Since then he’s been through some experiences that have changed his perspective and outlook. He’s back with a new studio, new approach and primed to serve a community dear to his heart.

For more info on Jonah visit: http://www.survivorsound.com/

In this episode we discuss:

  • DIY attitude
  • The Aftermath of Fires
  • Advocacy
  • The Dynamics of East Oakland
  • Serving his community
  • Dealing with Debt

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Jonah Strauss
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #253 with Mary Mazurek

WCA #253 with Mary Mazurek – Recording live, Knowing your worth, Complicated gigs & Parents with multiple fridge/freezers.

Mary Mazurek is a Grammy-nominated recording engineer, artist, educator, speaker, and consultant. She currently works as a producer/engineer at WFMT in Chicago, teaches as an Adjunct professor at DePaul University as well as an instructor at Columbia College and Illinois Institute of Art.

For more info on Mary visit: https://www.marymazurek.com/

In this episode we discuss:

  • Recording live broadcasts
  • Studying under Murray Allen
  • Blatant sexism
  • Knowing your worth
  • Parents with multiple fridge/freezers
  • Chicago winters
  • Mental health & stress
  • Planning for complicated gigs

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Mary Mazurek
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #252 with Dave Hillis

WCA #252 with Dave Hillis – Metal beginnings, Record Store education, Pearl Jam, Rick Parashar, traditional record-making, and committing.

Dave Hillis has spent large amounts of time on both sides of the glass as a guitarist, producer, engineer, mixer and writer. He worked alongside famed producer Rick Parasher for several years in Seattle and was the engineer on Pearl Jam’s breakthrough album “10”.

For more info on Dave visit: https://davehillismusic.com/

In this episode we discuss:

  • Brooklyn to Seattle
  • Metal beginnings
  • DIY Focus
  • Record store education
  • Rick Parasher
  • Pearl Jam
  • Closing and opening studios
  • Traditional record making
  • Committing tracks
  • Moving back East

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Dave Hillis
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #251 with Piper Payne

WCA #251 with Piper Payne – Infrasonic Sound, survivalist audio, asking for help, losing a parent and new opportunities.

Piper Payne is a mastering engineer who has been a guest on WCA before (See WCA #045). She has been through some business experiences and changes since we last spoke and now has set up a home base in Nashville but also continues to spend time in Oakland where she still has a facility. She joins me for a discussion of those changes and opportunities post Summer NAMM.

Piper has mastered a wide variety of music including nationally renowned artists Third Eye Blind, Madame Gandhi, Geographer, Elettrodomestico (Jane Wiedlin/Go-Go’s), Shamir, Between You & Me, David Messier, and Fritz Montana, as well as Bay Area favorites Kat Robichaud, ANML, Sioux City Kid, The She’s, Emily Afton, Abbot Kinney, Travis Hayes, Kendra McKinley, Van Goat, and Diana Gameros.

For Piper’s complete history visit: http://www.piperpayne.com/

In this episode we discuss:

  • Art and commerce in the Bay Area
  • Joining Infrasonic Sound.
  • Setting up shop in Nashville.
  • Splitting time between cities.
  • Survivalist mentality.
  • Having a strong legal team.
  • Taking care of yourself.
  • Asking for help. 
  • Losing a parent. 
  • New opportunities. 

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Piper Payne
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #250 with Vance Powell

WCA #250 with Vance Powell – Business managers, assistants, not working at home, Grammys and cleaning up dog shit.

Vance Powell is an old friend to Working Class Audio. His first appearance was on episode #007 almost 5 years ago. Vance is a 6 time Grammy Award-winning record producer, engineer, and mixer and has worked with Chris Stapleton, Jack White, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, The White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, Wolfmother, and Martina McBride, among many others. I join Vance at his studio in Nashville, Sputnik Sound for the second interview. We are also joined in the room by mastering badass, Chris Athens (Blink 182, Drake, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj ). 

In this episode we discuss,

  • Respecting your past.
  • Business managers
  • Not working from home.
  • Jumping through hoops.
  • Sedentary life. 
  • Taxes.
  • The Stray Cats
  • Fame.
  • Grammys. 
  • Cleaning up dog shit. 

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Vance Powell
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #249 with Jeff Kolhede

WCA #249 with Jeff Kolhede- A journey of adapting, surviving and finding oneself in the world of audio and music.

Jeff Kolhede is a Grammy-nominated producer, composer, engineer, and musician. He is currently a staff engineer at 25th Street Recording and is also a house producer, engineer, and mentor at Zoo Labs both located in Oakland, California. Jeff can be heard on film, television, advertisements, and artist projects, including the trailer music for the movie, Moonlight, as a sound-designer, for the Virtual Software Instrument EXHALE, ANALOG STRINGS, and MOVEMENT, by Output. Jeff has performed with such artists as John Legend, Allen Stone, HoneyHoney, Pete Wentz, Chali 2na, and JoJo. Jeff was also a member of the “Hollywood Game Night” band on NBC for two seasons, performing vocals and horns. 

In this episode we discuss,

  • Finding your path.
  • Influence of band directors.
  • Knowing when not to comment.
  • Adapting to a new environment.
  • Working long hours
  • Focused vs. unfocused clients.
  • Surviving a high cost of living. 

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Jeff Kolhede
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #248 with Eyal Levi

WCA #248 with Eyal Levi – URM, The Demands of Metal, Standards and Devotion to learning.

Eyal Levi is a critically acclaimed educator, musician, producer, former guitarist and primary songwriter for the band  Daath, as well as a co-founder of URM (Unstoppable Recording Machine) Academy, an online education platform for producers with thousands of students from across the globe. In the studio, he has worked with such artists including The Black Dahlia Murder, Monuments, The Contortionist, Chelsea Grin, and Firewind among many others.

In this episode we discuss,

  • The creation of URM.
  • The demands of Metal.
  • Standards.
  • Teaching yourself.
  • Devotion to learning.
  • Managing money.

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Guest: Eyal Levi
  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #247 with Justin Colletti

WCA #247 with Justin Colletti – Mastering, SonicScoop, State Mottos and giving jail a try.

Justin Colletti is a mastering engineer, and the author of hundreds of articles on the art, science, and business of music and sound. He acts as director of content and publishing for SonicScoop and has written for outlets including Tape Op, The Deli Magazine, Trust Me I’m a Scientist and many more. In 2019, he began the weekly SonicScoop Podcast, interviewing music and audio industry luminaries and regularly taking deep dives into complex and controversial issues in music and audio production.

In this episode we discuss,

  • Corporate Environments.
  • Jail Time.
  • Transitioning to Mastering
  • Saying yes to work.
  • Thinking ahead
  • Doing things for the future you.
  • State Mottos.
  • Role Models.
  • Microeconomics.
  • Master Mind Groups.
  • Fiscal Responsibility.

Links and Show Notes:

WCA #246 with Eric Fredricey

WCA #246 with Eric Fredricey – Running with the clock in the world of broadcast audio

Eric Fredricey started with hand me down cassette decks and mixers, progressed to a broadcast internship in Junior High, worked at a tv station right out of high school and is now chief engineer at KCSB-FM college radio in his hometown. 

In this episode we discuss,

  • The World of Broadcast.
  • Running with the clock.
  • Getting yelled at.
  • Tailoring your resume.
  • Negotiating your salary
  • Getting into broadcast.
  • FCC Regulations.
  • A million acronyms. 

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Guest: Eric Fredricey
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #245 with Steve Chadie

WCA #245 with Steve Chadie – Making Records in Houses, Legal Pads & Willie Nelson

Steve Chadie started interning for Willie Nelson’s studio in 1995. 24 years later armed with a host of high profile clients, awards and experiences Steve still has the same enthusiasm he did when he started and a desire to lend a helping hand, gear or advice to upcoming young engineers that he collaborates with. 

In this episode we discuss,

  • Working with Willie Nelson.
  • Sharing knowledge.
  • Legal Pads.
  • Being invisible.
  • Working with Andy Johns.
  • Living like a Squirrel.
  • Not missing things.
  • Making records in houses. 

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Guest: Steve Chadie
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #244 with Paul Drew

WCA #244 with Paul Drew – The Power of Diversification

Paul Drew is a producer, engineer, mixer, session guitarist, and member of Production Expert. He’s also the D in DWB Music Ltd and DWB MIXING. His experience is diversified and has served him well. Paul walks us through the details of all of it and tells us about his new venture The Studio Rats. 

In this episode we discuss:

  • The Asian music market.
  • The value of diversification. 
  • His transition to Studio One.
  • Managing gear lust. 
  • Mixing Rates
  • Language Barriers in revisions.

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Guest: Paul Drew
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #243 with Patrick Meza

WCA #243 with Patrick Meza– The Importance of Perseverance.

Patrick Meza is a Mix Tech at Warner Brothers. He is a prime example of how perseverance can open doors and shape your career. While still at the early stages of that career, Patrick has worked at some amazing places including Somatone Interactive, Disney, Pandora, and Skywalker Sound.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The power of connecting over LinkedIn.
  • The importance of staying hungry.
  • Assuming the role in your audio career.
  • Not being afraid to try other types of audio gigs. 
  • Breaking down barriers. 

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Guest: Patrick Meza
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab

WCA #242 with Brian David Hood

WCA #242 with Brian David Hood – Creating A Six Figure Home Studio

Brian David Hood is a producer/engineer, studio owner, and entrepreneur. Brian takes us through his journey, from playing drums on tour, opening a studio in his parent’s basement, hitting a major low point that spurred him on to better opportunities, creating a video course and a podcast and his entrepreneurial ventures.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • Brian’s podcast that addresses the business concerns of audio pros. 
  • A new way to post mixes and masters for your clients and get paid.
  • A video course to give your audio business a kick in the ass. 
  • The benefits of keeping your overhead low. 
  • Tools to get over social anxiety. 
  • Delegating and automating audio tasks.  
  • The benefits of checklists.

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

  • Host: Matt Boudreau 
  • Guest: Brian David Hood
  • WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell 
  • Announcer: Chuck Smith
  • Editing: Anne-Marie Pleau & Matt Boudreau
  • Additional Music: The License Lab